Huge Natural-Gas Field Supports Country's Finances, but for How Long?

SYDNEY—For nearly a decade, East Timor has relied on revenue from a huge natural-gas field to rebuild after the country's war of independence with Indonesia. Now, the tiny nation's outlook is becoming less certain as that gas field runs low on reserves.

Santos Ltd. said Friday that a new assessment of the Bayu-Undan field, in waters shared by East Timor and Australia, showed that the Australian energy company's share of remaining...